Breaking:F1 star may miss Saudi Arabian Grand Prix over… Read more
Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg faced a post-race disqualification after the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, raising questions about his eligibility for the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, fans can rest assured that the German racer will still be on the grid this weekend.
Hulkenberg, who recently joined the Sauber team for the 2025 season, initially finished the Bahrain race in 13th place. Although he didn’t earn points from the race, his performance was commendable, especially as he outpaced his rookie teammate Gabriel Bortoleto. The Brazilian newcomer has yet to score a single point in what has been a challenging debut season in Formula 1.
Following the race in Bahrain, the FIA conducted routine post-race inspections and found that Hulkenberg’s car failed to meet technical regulations. Specifically, the rearmost skid block on his Sauber was found to be worn below the minimum legal thickness of 9 millimeters. This infraction led to his disqualification from the Bahrain race results. The skid block, often referred to as the “plank,” is a critical component that prevents cars from running too low and gaining an aerodynamic advantage.
Hulkenberg’s disqualification follows a similar incident involving Lewis Hamilton earlier this season. The seven-time world champion lost his sixth-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix for the same violation — excessive wear on the skid block.
Despite the penalty, Hulkenberg’s disqualification only applies to the Bahrain Grand Prix and does not carry over to future events. FIA regulations clearly state that such technical disqualifications impact only the event in which the infraction occurred. As a result, Hulkenberg faces no restrictions for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and is expected to race as usual.
Race bans in Formula 1 are typically the result of accumulating penalty points, not technical infringements. Drivers receive penalty points for unsafe driving and other on-track offenses. A driver who reaches 12 points within a 12-month period is automatically banned for one race. This rule led to Hulkenberg’s former Haas teammate, Kevin Magnussen, missing the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after breaching the limit at the Italian Grand Prix.
Currently, Hulkenberg has four penalty points on his super license. These points are scheduled to expire over the course of this season. Two of them were handed to him for pushing Fernando Alonso off track during the Austrian sprint race last year, while the other two were a result of a collision with Yuki Tsunoda at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.
With the disqualification behind him and no immediate threat of suspension, Hulkenberg remains focused on delivering strong performances for Sauber. As the F1 circus heads to Saudi Arabia, he will be aiming to regain momentum and help lift the team further up the standings.
